Photographic camera



Dec. 7, 1932 1-"ENKEL 2,101,543

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA Filed April 30, 19736 2 Sheets-Sheet l imi-- Dec. 7, 1937. G, HENKEL I PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAA Filed April 30, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIH] I I IHIIIIIH I Patented Dee. Y7, 193i?` .K

UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

Zeiss Ikon Aktiengesellschaft, -Dresd many en, Ger- Application April 30,1936, serial' No. '11.161

.8Claims.

This invention relates to photographic cameras and particularly it relates to an improvement in the art oi accurately focusing the lens system by means of a base range nnder.

The principle of thebase range finder is known toreside in the fact that the remote object is viewed from two diilerent points simultaneously. The two images are thencaused to register with each other for which purpose means for deflecting the light rays are used. The simultaneous observation o! the two images may be effected by means of mirrors or prisms, while the deflection of the light rays is brought about through rotation of a mirror or a prism having total reflection 1 5 or it is brought about by means of an optical wedge having a variable `wedge angle. Such an optical wedge. for instance. may be composed o( a pair of rotary prisms or a pair oi rotary lenses. This method oi measuring the distance, according to the optical laws, permits now only the registration of images all points of which are positioned in a single plane whilethose points of the object which are outside of this sharply dehned plane, cannot be brought into proper registration in the range nnder.

therefore, does not have any depth of focus, as `forinstancaaiens has.

" AUpon coupling a base range ilnder with the lens system oi va photographic camera for the 30 purpose ot focusing the lens, the base range nnder becomes a measuring instrument which operates with excessive accuracy, since the lens of the camera will reproduce very sharply certain portions o'i the object even though these portions are not in registration in the base range ilnder. The lphotographer is therefore tempted' to readjust the base range ilnder continuously to obtain a coml lis operatively connected with the diaphragm adjusting device of the lens system, by means in- '.50 cluding a train of gears. The diaphragm adf justing device is also coupled with the first base range ilnder in such a manner thatvwhen adjust- 4ing the first rangeiinder to focus the object to be photographed sharply. the diaphragm is also 56 adjusted with respect to the 'object to be phototo be photographed.

A base distance meter,v

graphed without, however, varying the adjustment of the second base range finder. Since. now this second range ilnder is connected by its associated train of gears with the diaphragm a`d lusting device, itis only necessary for the purpose 5 of obtaining the desired depth of focus to adjust the second range linder, for instancewith respect to an object which lies -further back in the scene The drawings show by'way oi example one em- 10" bodiment of the invention. i

Fig. 1 is a horizontal crossisectional view of the camera substantially of the broken line 'I-I o! Fig. 2 looking in theedirection oi the arrows; Fig. 2 is a front .elevation View of the camera 15 witha portion o'i the front wall broken away to show the gearings:

Fig. 3 isa vertical cross-sectional view, substantially on the line III-III of Fig. 2, looking in the direction o f the arrow; 20 Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view substantially on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2 or 3, looking in the direction of the arrow; y Fig. 5 is a iront elevation view of the ,camera in a reduced scale, and l 25 Fig. 6 shows the images produced b'y the two range ilnders as observed by the photographer.

In accordance with the invention, twobase lrange nders, comprising rhomboid prisms 2 and 3 respectively, are located in the upper portion 30. of the camera housing i. In irontof these prisms are disposed light rays deflecting means in the form of rotaryglass wedges 4, 5 and 6, 1 respec- -tively. 'I'heelements of each pair of said rotary glass wedges are simultaneously adjustablein opposite direction relatively to each other.

'I'he rotary glass wedges 4, 5 are operatively connected by a train of gears with the focusing .device of the lens system `and the rotary glass wedges l, 1 are operatively connected withJ-the 40 diaphragm adjusting device oi saidlens system.

The first or upper base range 'ilnder is adjusted by amanually operable gear I which projects partially outwardly from the top4 wall of the camera housing I and meshes with a gear 9 45 which in turn meshes with the gears i0 and il, the latter of which meshes with a'. gear I2 preferably formed integral with the screw thread member oi' the focusing device of the lens system.

The gear I0 is an annular gear and forms the 50 mounting for the rotary glass wedge l. The gear l meshes also with a gear Il which is arranged in a plane behind the plane oi' gear i0 (Fig, 1) and in turn engages the annular gear il in which the rotary glass wedge 4 is vmounted to rotate the 55 latter in opposite direction of the glass wedge 5.

In addition tothe adjustment of the rst rangeA nder and the lens system the rotation of the manuallyoperable gear 8 causes also an adjustment of the diaphragm 5of the lens system. It

. gears 201 and 2i which are in mesh with each other. The gear 2B meshes also with the gear il,

While the gear 2i meshes also with a gear-22 loose- 1y mounted on shaft I8. The gear 22 forms an element of the gearing 22, 23, 2d, 25 of the. second range finder. Owing to the frictional resistance inherent in this last named gearing the gear 22 cannot be rotated when the'gears it, il are set in motion upon manually rotating the gear d. A rotation of the gear il, however, causes a rotation of the gear withthe result that due to the interposition of the gear 2i the gears 2d. and 2i roll along the circumference of the coaxial gears Il and 22,'respectively, thereby swinging the cam I9 which carries the gears 2G, 2i, about its pivot axis which as mentioned above is formed by the stub shaft i8. The cam i9 controls the oscillation of a lever 26 which is pivotally supported on.

a stub shaft 2l .and is providedvwith a toothed segment 29 engaging an annular gear 29 preferably integrally formedwith the diaphragm adjusting member 30. A spring 3l attached to the lever 2B maintains the heel 26a of this lever 26 always in engagement with the circumference of the cam disc. I9.` It will be appreciated from the above that during the focusing of the lens system, effected by rotating the gear and observing the Limage appearing in the first range finder the diaphragm will also be adjusted, namely to the same points of the object to be photographed upon which the lens system is focused, which may be locatedfor instance in the foreground:y

AThe further or additional adjustment of the diaphragm for the purpose of adjusting the camera for the desired depth of focus is eiected with the second range finder, which is adjusted to ycertain points in the background of the scene to be photographed.

The second range nder is adjusted by rotating a manually operable gear 25, which in similar manner as the manually operable gear extends partially outwardly from the top wail of the camera casing I. This gear 25'is adapted to operate the gearing 24, 23, 22, which is not only` coupled with the diaphragm adjusting device I9,

20, 2|, 26, 28, 29, but is also coupled with the rotary glass wedges 6, 'l of said second "range finder. The gear 2 3 meshes withthe annular gear 33 in which the glass wedge l is mounted, the gear 33.1ying ina plane different from that of gear 22 and the gear 22 meshes lwith an annular gear 32 in which the glass wedge 6 is mounted, whereby these vglass wedges 6 and 'lA are rotated uniformly and simultaneously in opposite directions. Owing to the frictional resistance inherent in the gear train I1, I6, \9, Ill, Il, B-of the ilrst range-finder, this latter gear train will not r'otate when the gear train 2li, 23, 32, 22, 33 of the second range finder is operated by manual .rotation of the gear 25. The gear 20 rollsalong the circumference of gear I1 and this results inaswinging of the cam disc I9 about its pivot axis. The lever 26 which is controlled by the cam disc I9 is again actuated and causes an adjustment of the diaphragm I5 to the desired depth of focus extending. to the background of the scene to be photographed. The adjustment of the lens system, which previously wasv completed by the rst range finder, remains unchanged during this add itional diaphragm adjustment for depth of focus, which is done by adjusting the second range iinder.

The image produced by the upper range finder is observed at 3d, and the image produced by the -lower one is observed at 35. )The apertures for admitting light rays to the-upper range iinder,

are indicated at 36 and 3l, and the apertures for the lower one at 38 and 39. By means of a rhom-l ject dl, which lies in a plane backward of the 1 object d3 appears improperly assembled. 'I'he lower base range nder, which is coupled with the diaphragm adjusting device has been sharply vadjusted to the object 44 so that the image of the latter appears properly superposed or assembled in the lower image field 42 as indicated at Ma. in front of object 44 appears to be improperly assembled as indicated at 63B.

I claim: v 1 f 1 In a photographic camera, the combination, a photographic lens, means for adjustingsaid photographic lens, a diaphragm for said lens, means for adjusting said diaphragm, a range finder, manuallybperable means for actuating both said adjusting .means and range finder simultaneously, a second range finder operatively connected with said diaphragm adjusting means and a second manually operable means for actuatingsaid rsecond range iinder and said'diaphragm adjusting means simultaneously, without changing the adjustment of said first range finder and said photographic lens.

2. In a photographic camera, the combination,

a photographic lens, means for adjusting'said photographic lens, a diaphragm for said lens, means for adjusting said diaphragm, a range finder, means for operatively connecting. said range finder with both aforesaid adjusting means,

The object 43 which is positioned in a plane means for adjusting said diaphragme range',

finder provided with a pair of rotary `optical wedges rotatablesimultaneously in opposite directions, manually operable means for actuating both said adjusting means and said pair of rotary wedges simultaneously, said rotary wedges being adapted to bring predetermined parts ofthe i object'to be photographed ,intoregistration in the composite image, produced by'range finder, a

second range finder provided with al pair of rotary optical wedges rotatable simultaneously in oppoi able means associated with'the first mentioned A range finder, and coupling means for connecting l,15 said two manually operable means, said coupling connecting both saidmanuallyoperable means with said diaphragm adjusting means and preventing the operation of one range finder by the other. j

4. -In a photographic camera, the combination, a photographic lens, means for adjusting said photographic lens, a diaphragm for said lens, means for adjusting said diaphragm, a range finder, means operatively connecting said range finder with both said adjusting means, a. second range finder, means operatively connecting said second range finder with said diaphragm adjusting means for operating the latter independently of said first range finder whenever said second range finder is adjusted, coupling means connecting said operative connections between said two range finders and said diaphragm adjusting s means respectively with each other, said vcoupling preventing the operation of one range finder by the other, anobservation Window for both said range finders, and means associated withone of said range finders for deflecting the light rays in such a manner into said window that the composite images of both range finders appear next to each other. i

5. In a photographic camera, the combination, a photographic lens, means for adjusting said photographic lens, a `diaphragm for said lens, means for adjusting said diaphragm, a range finder, means operatively connecting said range finder with both said adjusting means, means for manually operatingv said operative' connecting means, a second 'range finder, means for operatively connecting said second -range finder with said diaphragm adjust ng means, a second means formanually operating said last 'named operative connecting means, both said operative connecting means including each a gear loosely mounted upon a common shaft one adjacent the "other, a

A cam mountedon said shaft,A two pinions rotatably*` mounted each on a separate shaft attached to' said cam, said pinions meshing with each other "and also meshing each with one of said-gears, said cam being adapted to be oscillated about the 00 axis of said common shaft by either one of said,

- gears whichever one is actuated by its associated operative -.connecting means, and a pivotally mounted member engaging said cam and adapted w to operate said diaphragm adjusting means. 65

loi' a photographic lens system provided with an adjustable diaphragm. means for adjustingV said e lens system andI means for4 adjusting, said dioftwo range finders, two trains oi' -range finders,

`6. In `a 'photographic camera,.the combination learn/each provided withI manually operable means for rotatingthe. same, one of said trains of gears being operatively connected with one of said `range finders, `said diaphragm adjusting l means and said lens system adjusting means, the

. other train of gears being operatively connected with the second range finder and also with said diaphragm adjusting means, a pivotally mounted lever adapted to operate said diaphragm adjusting means, a cam controlling the pivoted move- .i

ment of said lever, a shaft on which said cam is `mounted, two gears loosely mounted on said shaft and meshing each with one of said trains of gears, and two pinions ymounted on separate shafts carried by said cam, said pinions meshing with each other and each with one of the gears connected to saidtrains of gears.

'1.v In a photographic camra, the combination,

a photographic lensfa diaphragm for said lens,

means f or adjusting said lens, a lever for adjusting said diaphragm, two range finders, each including two spacedre'flecting faces forming a base, means for deflecting the composite image of the object to be photographed and as produced by one of said range finders into an observation' window common to both range finders, said de- 'flecting means being arranged behind one refleeting face of thev respective range finder, said observation window being positioned behind o ne reflecting face of the other range finder, two manually operable means, one for each said range finders, one of said manually operable means adjusting simultaneously with its associated range finder said lens adjusting means and said diaphragm adjusting lever, said man.

ually operable means including a train ofgears operatively connected with saidvlens, ad-

justing means and also with `a gear loose on a` shaft, a cam on said'shaft, a pinion rotatably vmountedon said camfand meshing with vsaid o g lgear,said cam engaging and controllingy the move-V vment of said diaphragm adjusting lever, the

second manually operable means includingl a train of gears, a second gear loose on said shaft and driven by said last named train of gears, and a second pinion rotatably mounted on saidv cam and meshing with said first named pinion and with said second gear,v whereby said dia- ,phragm adjusting lever is-,adapted to be moved by said second manually operable means, without affecting the adjustment of the photographic lens and said first range flnder..

8. In a photographic camera, fthe combination.

a photographic lens, means foradjusting said lens. an. adjustable diaphragm for said lens, a lever adapted to adjust said diaphragm, two

manually operable means for adjusting one of said rangeiinders and for simultaneously influencing said diaphragm adjusting lever and said lens, adjusting means, a Asecond manually operable means for simultaneously adjusting said second rangeiinder and said -diaphragm adjustingl lever,`a cam, said diaphragmadjusting lever loneoi' said manuallyfoperable means., the lens adjusting means being in operative connection with one of. said-train of gears.,

engaging said cam.. two gearsI looselyrotatable about'the axis of said cam, 'each a pinion rotatably 

